5 nuggets of knowledge about hardware

October 13, 2009|By Chris Engle and Michael Jones

Hardware stores life blood

of many communities

Hardware stores back in the “good old days,” just like today, were/are known for their friendly atmosphere and a willingness to help their customers and were/are an important asset in their communities.

Although there are fewer hardware stores in the United States than in years past, the U.S. Census Bureau reported there were still 14,300 of the do-it-yourself type businesses in 2005.

Hardware stores today, much as they did at the turn of the 20th century, sell a variety of merchandise including hand tools, keys, locks, hinges, plumbing and electrical supplies, paint and garden products. Depending on their geographic location some stores have specialty departments which may sell hunting and fishing supplies, marine and boating supplies or farm and ranch supplies.

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Bob and Helen Audrain, who opened Audrain Hardware at 148 W. Main St. in 1940, owned the first Main Street business in Gaylord to undergo the Alpine Village look facelift.

Turn of the century Main Street hardware businesses in Gaylord included John M. Brodie Hardware and the Gaylord Hardware Company.

Source: Gaylord Herald Times, “A Step Back in Time” published by the Otsego County Historical Society and en.wikipedia.org

Sure, I can fix that

While most retail outlets concentrate on selling merchandise, the good, old-fashioned hardware store found in many small communities offer a range of services and repair of many household items which can’t be found anywhere else.

It’s not uncommon for a hardware store to repair broken windows and screens, offer small engine repair, re-key entry locks and make copies of house and car keys.

Many local hardware stores are still known for their willingness to rewire lamps and vacuum cleaners, sharpen knifes and cutting tools and make minor repairs to faucet and shower parts.

Armor has been around since the earliest altercations between civilizations. While armor material evolved drastically from the days of thick leather clothing or hammered brass plates, the objective of armor remains the same: protect the wearer from injury in an attack.

In fact, modern armor borrows much of its design from ancient methods. Modern vest-style body armor worn on the upper body can use ceramic and composite plates to stop projectiles and shrapnel, much like brass plates did for earlier warriors. Vests worn by prison staff incorporate a type of chainmail to stop knives and stabbing weapons. Riot gear uses extra padding to cushion punches and blows from angry demonstrators.

Today’s best armor is comfortable, light and easily upgraded to counteract any threat, from small-arms fire and explosions to sniper bullets.

Sources: Wikipedia, Daily Mail, New Zealand Herald

Just hand me the drill!

“Wait, did you say you wanted the self-contained computer-controlled battery-powered portable power tool used in conjunction with various socket extensions and torque multipliers to remove and torque mechanical fasteners?” one astronaut might say to another dangling from a solar panel and flying at thousands of miles per hour above Earth.

The aforementioned device, known to NASA as the pistol grip tool, is basically an electric drill designed for use in space. It is a type of extravehicular activity (EVA) tool, which can be operated even with thick gloved hands and is usually tethered to the astronaut to keep it from floating away into oblivion. “Usually” is the key word there — last year an astronaut lost her tool bag while trying to clean a solar rotary joint on the International Space Station.

Other EVA tools designed by NASA for the Apollo program led to the development of commercial cordless tools like the handheld vacuum cleaner, the portable drill and power shrub trimmers.